CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Maj. General Allen Tackett says he simply “misspoke” and was “trying to defuse the situation” when he told a coal miner in Logan County Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, supported President Barack Obama on “most of his policies.”

“Natalie doesn’t support most of Obama’s policies. She supports the things that are good for the people of West Virginia,” Tackett, the chair for the Tennant for U.S. Senate campaign, said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline” as he tried to explain his comment.

The exchange between Tennant, Tackett and the coal miner were captured on video Saturday by a tracker following Tennant on the campaign trail and posted to YouTube on Monday.

On the video, Tennant is asked repeatedly why she supported President Obama during his two Presidential campaigns. At one point, Tackett jumps in to say, “Because on most of his policies and stuff, she supports (him).”

In retrospect, Tackett retracted that statement.

“They were right up in Natalie’s face and becoming very obnoxious. They kept saying, ‘Why do you support Obama? Why do you support Obama?’ I just tried to come to her defense and I made the statement, ‘Well, because she supports some of the policies’ and I misspoke,” Tackett said.

“(I said it) Just in the heat of the moment, just trying to defuse the situation.”

But those with Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-W.Va.) U.S. Senate campaign have a different take.

“Natalie Tennant might not be willing to tell the truth about her strong support of Obama and his policies, but her campaign chair is,” Amy Graham, spokesperson for the Capito campaign, told The Charleston Daily Mail earlier this week.

“The more Natalie Tennant tries to dodge her record of defending Obama’s anti-coal agenda, the more voters will see just how wrong she is for West Virginia.”

Shauna Johnson

Shauna Johnson, a Fairmont native, is an award-winning reporter who has been covering news in West Virginia for more than a decade.

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Comments

hillbilly

Doesn't matter now... he already said it. People got their answer. Its too late for him to try to change or justify what he said now.

August 6, 2014 at 1:20 pm |

JClintB

Mr Tackett is just back peddling because he said it on video, all of us that watched the video and that was there knows he is lying when he said that the man talking to her was being obnoxious, he was not, he was just asking the question that he wanted an answer to and she was trying to avoid giving the answer. Thats when Mr Tackett stepped in to try to help her not have to answer, she did finally say that she did support Obama and Mr Tackett said that she supported most of his policies. Now after thinking it over he's tying to back peddle his way out of it. If the video from inside of the meeting comes out you'll see that Mr Tackett got out of his seat and came and got the man's face.

August 6, 2014 at 1:02 pm |

Aaron

“They were right up in Natalie’s face and becoming very obnoxious. They kept saying, ‘Why do you support Obama? Why do you support Obama?’ I just tried to come to her defense and I made the statement, ‘Well, because she supports some of the policies’ and I misspoke,” Tackett said.

“(I said it) Just in the heat of the moment, just trying to defuse the situation.”

After watching the video, there was no "they," there was one individual and he simply ask her a question to which she tried to weasleword a response without answering it and the young man would not allow her to do so. He kept telling her "you're not answering the question" and at that point, General Tackett intervened to save her the embarrassment of not being able to answer a simple question, not to diffuse a tense situation.

August 6, 2014 at 12:58 pm |

The bookman

Still think its seven points?

August 6, 2014 at 2:02 pm |

Aaron

Maybe 8. Less than 10. I have faith the walking dead of southern WV will keep it a fairly close race.

August 6, 2014 at 2:08 pm |

The bookman

Ok, I'll ask ya on another month when NT and her camp steps in it, again!

August 6, 2014 at 4:36 pm |

Monty Burns

Tennant is a joke. When your only claim to fame is being the first and possibly worst Mountaineer, then you have nothing to boast about. She is going to lose by double digits. I just hope the good people of WV are not dumb enough to vote for her when she tries to run for governor.

August 6, 2014 at 12:57 pm |

Independent View

Hondo, Mister G! & Damion45
Spot on! Please continue.

August 6, 2014 at 12:49 pm |

richard

OK? What is the point? She is a democrat. What is wrong with saying, "yes, I support many of his policies, but not his coal policies or some other issues". I don't understand. Is there anyone out there who supports every single issue that their president supports, whatever their party? Is there a republican out there who supports every single policy that GW Bush supported? I seriously doubt it. This is exactly what is wrong with politics in America. Everyone is out to get the other party for any silly comment instead of concentrating on the real problems of our state and country.
Look... you big coal supporting republicans and democrats had better wake up and realize that coal is on its death bed, and no republican or democrat will ever bring it back. Wake up to that fact. Go out there and try to recruit other industries. Make a plan for the future. Yes, that may mean the death of Logan, Boone, Mingo, and several other counties. I'm sorry, but coal has served us well in WV for years, but it is dying a slow death - no matter who is in office. The only people who say it will are the politicians and their hacks. Technology is growing, folks, and coal is not the future. Just the facts....

August 6, 2014 at 12:31 pm |

Aaron

"you big coal supporting republicans and democrats had better wake up and realize that coal is on its death bed, and no republican or democrat will ever bring it back."

But it is not on it's deathbed. Coal will continue to supply a significant portion of our electrical generation for decades to come.

August 6, 2014 at 2:11 pm |

richard

Wrong!!! Our dependence on coal will decrease this year, next year, and the next until it is next to nothing. It is a dying industry, and the sooner WV wakes up and realizes that fact, the better off it will be. I don't say this because I hate coal. As I said, it has served WV well over the years, but it is dying fast.

August 7, 2014 at 10:00 pm |

WV Man

And her opponent Capito has an A rating by the National Rifle Association. That means a whole lot to guys like me!

August 6, 2014 at 12:22 pm |

Protechcpa

Amen, brother. BTW, Tennant went on record against the second amendment during her first campaign for SOS. Look it up. She will try to hide behind the musket now, but she made her position clear.

August 6, 2014 at 1:40 pm |

Pastor

Natalie's whole campaign needs redone. If "She wants to send a message to the White House", it seems that she should vote for Capito.

August 6, 2014 at 12:18 pm |

Hondo

The General is such a WV democrat that he probably doesn't know what tenant supports and what she doesn't. I heard the radio interview and was not impressed by his attempt to dodge and surround. His politics are evident; he is just not in a role to help this candidate other than by use of his name. He is like Cecil Roberts, just plain blind to the facts.

August 6, 2014 at 12:10 pm |

the flying dutchman

tackett went to the roger clemens school of non-sensical utterings and just mis-remembered tennants "all in" endorsement of obama.....i guess it would be easy to mis-remember her endorsement of obamas energy policies, attendance at his inauguration, contributions to his campaign and so on and so forth. i think what he mis-remembered was being in the military does not make one a political spokeperson. its a wonder he didnt ask the questioner to drop and give him ten for an impertinent question.

August 6, 2014 at 12:01 pm |

Mister G!

Natalie Tennant's Senate attempt is the most amateurish, nonsensical, devoid-of-purpose campaign in recent memory...her staff is a laughable collection of self-important, fourth-rate, childish, wannabe operatives, and the slovenly General himself couldn't defend from an invasion of army ants. As always, Ms. Wells stands for nothing except wanting to be the most popular girl in school; she's about to discover she isn't. Natalie Tennant isn't worthy of a single vote, especially from Democrats. The whole thing is pathetic...

August 6, 2014 at 11:36 am |

Aaron

I agree but with no other viable candidates and Jay running for the hills in lieu of an embarrassing defeat to end his career, she stepped up and at least gave Democrats a viable candidate. As a result, she will be rewarded by both WV and national Democrats at some point in the future, likely in their support of a gubernatorial run.

August 6, 2014 at 2:14 pm |

The bookman

I'm sure that is what they told her, but she will be damaged as a future candidate. Her best days are behind her. She was the sacrificial lamb, and she went willingly. Sad when you think about it.

August 6, 2014 at 4:00 pm |

David

Asking why you support Obama is obnoxious?

The "support" is what's obnoxious!

And the all the democratic lies...!

August 6, 2014 at 11:25 am |

David

Tackett is a bald faced liar!

This isn't the first lie either..

August 6, 2014 at 11:22 am |

Roger

Talking about back peddling! When stick foot in mouth, be prepared to with stand the heat...

August 6, 2014 at 11:22 am |

Damion45

If you don't support your party leader (Obama), why run as a democrat? Makes no sense to me.
If you don't support Obama, don't vote Democrat.
But so like West Virginia, we vote for those who work against our prosperity and are thankful for the crumbs bestowed upon us from afar.